So, this Antifa thing can be kind of disturbing to some.

[Eko]

I get it, they do some violence that can make us uncomfortable. I don't like violence at all, and we should abstain from it when we can. We can rationalize that there are only a few that are violent and they don't really represent our views. Fast forward 10 years, maybe 15. The world is even hotter by quite a bit. What most don't realize is that the climate scientists are using (ahem) the conservative models to warn us of climate change. Even now we are breaking those records and scientists are warning us of that. Just google it. They also are mainly not taking into account the x factors of melting permafrost releasing more methane, the oceans doing the same, those things are not in the equation for the most part. In 10 years South America will be hell, 15 years and they wont be able to live without air conditioning which will of course take more energy and increase global warming. Migration going up north will be something we have never seen. Imagine what the proud boys will be able to do with that, what the right will. It will be like nothing we have ever seen if they have power or if they control the narrative. Even if they don't it will get crazy quick. If they do, we will be the exact opposite of what we want to be. Ask yourself who is going to stop that and how they would do that. What would a Democratic president do? When immigration gets to overload what are they going to do? Are they going to let everyone in? What will the white nationalist do? We have craziness now, extreme craziness with the racist assholes. Just wait till it gets worse and its going to. Maybe that is what these people are thinking of and if they can stop it now. Maybe they are just assholes and want to fight. Me, I know which side Ill be on if I have to. You? Because its more than likely coming.

[CentralMass]

1. Ya. Nothing helps the cause like putting on masks, wielding clubs, breaking storefront windows

and burning cars in the street.

[Eko]

2. Whatever man.

If you want to have conversation you don't have to resort to straw man. Feel free to intelligently reply to have a conversation unlike the previous one.

[CentralMass]

3. I'm not going to be convinced that the aforementioned behavior is a good thing

[Eko]

6. I never said it was.

But opposing white nationalists? Are you against that?

[CentralMass]

9. Of course I am. I am also against any group that decides tearing up a city is a valid act

of civil unrest. From all that Ive seen or read and observed when I've either been in the city during one of these or had to alter plans because of one of the rally's it is the antifa side that are the worst offenders. They are the group that damages business, cars, start fires, and is responsible for most of the personal injury. Stating this does not make me a supporter of white nationalists.

My earlier statement was not a strawman argument. It is based on fact.

[Eko]

11. And that is what they do?

"wielding clubs, breaking storefront windows and burning cars in the street."
That's what they did in Portland on Saturday?
Interesting that you focus on one thing that does happen at some of the protests and disregard everything else.
That is why it was a straw man.

[CentralMass]

14. That is what they did at these events.

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2016/11/pearl_district_ne_portland_wak.html

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2017/05/portland_may_day_demonstration.html

[Eko]

16. Funny thing,

if you control F for "Antifa" in those articles it comes up zero. No where in those articles do they mention antifa. There is an argument to be made for your side but you are not even close to making it. Instead you are engaging in even more straw man. Too funny.

[Eko]

12. Hey look,

These people put on masks, used worse than clubs and destroyed property. They pretty much fit your description to a bill.

That night, a large group of men – many reportedly members of the Sons of Liberty – disguised themselves in Native American garb, boarded the docked ships and threw 342 chests of tea into the water.

Said participant James Hawkes, “We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard, and we immediately proceeded to execute his orders, first cutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as thoroughly to expose them to the effects of the water.”

[not_the_one]

15. equating the boston tea party action with anarchists is ludicrous

If antifa wants everyone to know they are the good guys on the right side of the issues, they need to make sure there is a distinction between them and the anarchists.

Anarchists want anarchy. It's apparently, for some, a lot of fun to tear up, break and burn stuff.

[Eko]

17. Its apparent that for you antifa equal anarchists.

While for us it means anti fascist, interesting that. I would suggest you research them to find out what they really are.

[PandoraAwakened]

4. Thought-provoking

Good on you for looking at very real future possibilities that are highly likely to arrive sooner than later. Even better, you are actually projecting yourself into that future with an understanding that philosophical decisions will have to be made about who we are as humans and where you, individually, will be positioning your own soul when the shit really hits the fan, so to speak.

Regarding Anti-fa: As someone who has conducted extensive research on both fascists and anti-fascists, I think the most important thing to understand about "Anti-fa" is that it is not actually a "thing," inasmuch as it is not an organization and never has been. Anti-fa is an idea, one that is constantly in flux based on current political and social landscapes and one that very much changes with every generation and even within sub-generations.

In other words, what Anti-fa "is" today is not what it was 50, 20, 10, or 5 years ago. Hell, it's not even what it was a year ago. I have found with this phrase, in particular, people tend to attach a definition to it that reveals the generation in which they first heard of it, which is most assuredly a definition that no longer applies.

Based on hundreds of interviews with those who identify as such, the common descriptors for today's Anti-fa are "anti-white-supremacist" and "anti-racist," having very little to do with, for example, anarchy (a prevalent Anti-fa theme decades ago). In fact, an average of 7 out of 10 anti-fascists interviewed were unable to even provide a definition or description of "anarchism."

Yet, most who self-identify as Anti-fa can tick off a whole laundry list of organized and heavily armed white supremacist / white nationalist groups operational today who they see as terrorists and enemies of the people.

So, anyway, just thought I'd provide some perspective on a topic most know little about since it was brought up in this OP and it seems the writer is at least thinking about it on a deeper level than is typical.

[Eko]

7. Thanks.

[pecosbob]

5. If there was not some nebulous antifa, there would be someone else targeted and scapegoated

This is about finding reasons to restrict Americans right to protest. It is a tool they use to turn the people against ourselves and make us abandon our allies and accept that they are all powerful and above challenge. They've stacked the Supreme Court. They want to return the Senate to direct appointment. This is about rural sheriffs resusing to uphold statutes on gun control and covering for the white supremacist terrorists. This is about authoritarians versus advocates of civil liberties and freedom. The next few years may determine whether we fall into fascism or escape from it.

[PandoraAwakened]

8. Heartily agree. To ignore the fascists is to

do so at one's own peril. Shall we list the countries / civilizations that have fallen down that rabbit hole? Warning...the list is long.

[backscatter712]

10. BoTh SiDeS aRe ThE SaMe!!!11

AnTiFa Is JuSt As BaD aS tHe FaScIsTs! ThErE ArE VeRy FiNe PeOpLe On BoTh SiDeS!!!1!1one

[Shaddox]

13. Eko, Thanks for being the sane voice in the room. JFC.